Apparatus for generating electrolysis water

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an apparatus for generating electrolysis water which is used as sterilized drinking water and easily utilized and has an acidulous liquidity for the purpose of small-scale utilization in a low-cost, easy and safe way. The apparatus is comprised of a detachable raw-water storage container accommodated and retained in a non-diaphragm batch-type electrolytic tank, and a stand section for installing the container. On the stand section, a DC power supply, a control means, an operation section, a display section and the like are arranged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating sterilized drinking water by means of electrolysis of a solution containing hydrochloric acid in batch.

2. Description of the Related Art

A solution containing hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite obtained by way of electrolysis and electrode-oxidization of a solution containing chloride ions was used as a bactericide in the past, and the solution containing hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite was widely utilized since it is a bactericide with a strong toxicity and it is convenient in no such requirements for being stored or being circulated in the market, and the like. As a result of quickly reacting features and not generating trichloromethane, the solution with the liquidity from weak acidity to strong acidity recently used is rapidly popularized. In particular, the acidulous electrolysis water has been highly evaluated not only in its extensive effect, but also in its excellent preservation capability and its less harmful influence to the environment. Therefore, the acidulous electrolysis water is widely used as an essential bactericide in a large-scale food industry. Moreover, as a method for generating sterilized drinking water by means of electrolysis, what we know so far will be described as follows. Patent document 1 is directed to a technique for performing the electrolysis of the solution containing chloride ions by using a diaphragm type electrolytic tank by which an electrically conductive diaphragm is used to separate an anode and a cathode before electrolyzing the solution containing hydrochloric acidso as to utilize the strong acidic solution obtained from the anode side for sterilization. Since the sterilized drinking water obtained by using the above-mentioned method is possessed with extremely low pH value, it causes some problems, comprising, for example, poor stability of the bactericidal hypochlorous acid, rapid degradation in bactericidal effect when in an open environment, a harmful influence on environment due to the generation of chlorine gas, a waste of a half of raw water, poor efficiency of electrolysis and difficulty in large-scale production due to the electrolysis of the solution containing chloride ions in a very low concentration level, and so on. Because Patent document 2 performs electrolysis in the same manner as in Patent document 1, and the electrolysis is performed using the raw water only stored in a container, the sterilized drinking water generated in Patent document 2 will meet the same problems as those in Patent document 1. A method used in Patent document 3 for performing the electrolysis of the solution containing hydrochloric acid utilizes an electrolytic tank without diaphragm, in which no diaphragm for separating a cathode electrode and an anode electrode is provided. After forming a solution containing hypochlorous acid in a high concentration level, dilute the resulting solution with raw water to prepare the sterilized drinking water. The method is water-economic. The hypochlorous acid is stable and the bactericidal effect is better preservable since the pH value of the sterilized drinking water generated is in an acidulous range. Moreover, the efficiency of electrolysis is good because electrolyzing hydrochloric acid with higher concentration. However, because the primary object of this method is to dilute the high concentrated hydrochloric acid into the one with a proper concentration level while continuously performing an operation for generating the electrolysis water in the apparatus, various kinds of controlling means which are expensive apparatuses and not suitable for small-scale production are required. Patent document 4 is proposed by the present inventor serving the purpose of small-scale utilization. However, Patent document 4 adopts a method in which the electrolysis of the hydrochloric acid is performed by using an electrolytic tank without diaphragm to form an electrolysis bath and the sterilized drinking water which is the same as that in Patent document 3 is prepared by diluting the electrolysis bath with raw water, which is identical with the Patent document 3. In this method, the electrolytic tank is separated with a container for storing raw water, and then the hydrochloric acid which has been diluted to a certain concentration level is pre-poured into the electrolytic tank, and finally the electrolysis of the resulting solution is performed by inserting and immersing the electrolytic tank into the container for storing raw water. After the electrolysis is completed, the electrolytic tank is elevated from the container, and then the sterilized drinking water is prepared by adding the electrolysis bath inside the electrolytic tank to the raw water stored in the container after a valve of the electrolytic tank is opened to lead to dilution. The method has some disadvantages such as many tedious operations as described above are required.

[Patent document 1]: Japanese Patent Application No. JP19960278696

[Patent document 2]: Japanese Patent Application No. JP20010244444

[Patent document 3]: Japanese Patent Application No. JP19960309920

[Patent document 4]: Japanese Patent Application No. JP20020382890

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for generating electrolysis water which is used as sterilized drinking water and easy in utilization and has an acidulous liquidity for the purpose of small-scale utilization in a low-cost, easy and safe way.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a batch-type generating apparatus. The generating apparatus is easily installed in a batch-type manner, and it can be produced in low cost and in compact size since the complicated controls and parts as needed in a continuous generating apparatus are no longer required. Further, for taking account of the convenience of usage, the integration of an electrolytic tank and a container for the generated water is an important key to achieve the object of the present invention. More specifically, the apparatus consists of a raw-water storage container for accommodating and retaining a non-diaphragm batch-type electrolytic tank, and a stand section for installing the container. The outer contour of the accommodated and retained non-diaphragm batch-type electrolytic tank is configured as a frame body formed by an impermeable material. On the frame body, an inlet for raw-material liquid is provided, and a cap is also provided for preventing the gas generated in electrolysis from leakage. Also, a pipeline is provided on the top of the outer contour of the electrolytic tank for allowing the gas generated in electrolysis to be guided and dissolved in the raw water in the container, and one end of the pipeline is fixed, and the other end thereof is made to be opened in the proximity of the bottom of the container. For this purpose, during electrolysis, it is configured in such a way that the front end of the pipeline is immersed in the raw water stored in the container. Further, after the completion of electrolysis, an opening section equipped with an open and close valve is provided at the bottom of the electrolytic tank for allowing the electrolysis bath to be mixed and diluted with raw water. Moreover, in operation, it is configured in such a way that the open and close operations of the open and close valve can be performed by using an open and close operating section provided external to the raw-water container to prevent the gas left in the electrolytic tank from leakage and allow the operation thereof easily. The container and the stand section are made detachable so as to feasibly supply raw water and the draw out of generated water. For this end, a power supply and a control section are provided in the stand section, and when the container is installed on the stand section, it is configured in such a way that an electrode terminal for supplying power to an electrode embedded in the electrolytic tank is joined with a current supplying terminal disposed in the stand section to form a state that the power can be supplied to the electrolytic tank. Further, with respect to the raw-water container, a handle and an inlet are provided for the convenience in supplying raw-water and utilizing electrolysis water. Further, for allowing the construction of the raw-water container to be simplified and thus the fabrication cost to be reduced, an upper surface of the electrolytic tank is integrated with a top board of the container on which the container is attached just like the top board is covering the container. Furthermore, for ensuring the safety, the present invention can be achieved by solving the problems by using any one of the following implementations: (1) a configuration in which the electrolytic tank is not electrically conducted if the container is not installed on the stand section; (2) a configuration in which the electrolytic tank is not electrically conducted if the weight of the container is not higher than a certain value, when the container is installed on the stand section; (3) a configuration in which the electrolytic tank is not electrically conducted if the resistance between the electrodes of the electrolytic tank is not lower than a certain value; and (4) a configuration in which the electrolytic tank is not electrically conducted if the inlet for the raw-material liquid in the electrolytic tank is not closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiment given below, serve to explain the principle of the invention, in which

FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described as follows. At first, it is preferable that a diluted hydrochloric acid with a concentration of 3% or less is used as a raw-material liquid. This is because that it is easy to keep the pH value of the generated electrolysis water within the acidulous range. Such an apparatus is comprised of a raw-water storage container accommodated and retained in a non-diaphragm batch-type electrolytic tank, and a stand section for installing the container. On the stand section, a DC power supply for use in electrolysis, means for controlling the electrolysis time and the assurance of safety, and means for notification such as an indicator light and a buzzer are arranged. In order not to expose a power-supplying terminal of the stand section, when the raw-water storage container is installed, it is preferable to configure a convex terminal at the container side to insert into and join with a concave terminal at the stand section side, or by joining two magnets in a protrusive manner with one disposing at the container side and the other disposing at the stand section side. A sensor such as a limit switch for sensing the weight of the container is arranged in a portion of the stand section accommodating the raw-water storage container, and the sensor is not operated when the weight of the container is less than a certain value, and thus the current for electrolysis is not supplied. The raw-water storage container is made of resin, and is configured in an enclosed manner except for an opening provided with a water-feeding port and a water-exhausting port with each having a retractable lid. The batch-type electrolytic tank is configured in such a way as being hanged down from a top board of the container, and an upper surface of the electrolytic tank is integrated with the top board of the container. In a portion including both of the upper surface of the electrolytic tank and the top board of the container, a port for supplying the raw-material liquid is provided, with which a retractable lid is additionally provided, and a safety switch is configured in such a way that the current for electrolysis is not supplied if the retractable lid is not closed.

Further, means for operating an open and close valve disposed at the bottom of the electrolytic tank is provided on the top board of the container, and when the electrolysis is finished, the valve at the bottom of the electrolytic tank is opened by the operating means to allow electrolysis bath to be mixed and diluted by raw water in which the electrolytic tank is immersed. The operating means is incorporated with the valve to form an integrated rigid body, wherein one end of the formed body penetrates through the top board of the container to form the operating means, and the valve is depressed to be opened after pressing the operating means. An upper part of the portion located in the container of the electrolytic tank is joined to an opening in one side of a guiding pipeline, and the gas generated in the electrolytic tank is guided into the raw water in which the electrolytic tank is immersed through the guiding pipeline, whereas an opening in the other side of the guiding pipeline is arranged at the bottom portion of the container. As one of the safety control functions, it provides a controlling means which does not allow the current for electrolysis supplied when the resistance of the electrolytic tank is higher than a certain value. In the apparatus thus formed, it is further provided with a control system which is operated in such a way that: a certain amount of water is stored in the container and the opening thereof is covered with the lid; a certain amount of raw-material liquid is poured into the electrolytic tank and a feeding inlet is covered with the lid; and then the container is installed into the stand section. After an electrolysis-starting switch is depressed and the confirmation of the following conditions are met, comprising: the feeding inlet for the raw-material liquid being closed, the weight of the container being higher than the certain value, and the value of the resistance between the electrolysis electrodes being lower than the certain value, then the electrolysis is processed for a certain time period. After the certain time period, the completion of electrolysis is notified by turning on the indicator light or the occurrence of the sound of the buzzer. After that, by manipulating the open and close operations of the valve at the bottom of the electrolytic tank arranged on the top bard of the container, and by diluting the electrolysis bath with raw water, the acidulous electrolysis water containing predetermined bactericidal ingredients is generated in the container.

Next, for further understanding of the present invention, an embodiment will be described in detail in the following. However, the scope of the claims of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus (i.e., PIAMINI II manufactured by Hokuetsu Co., Ltd.) in according with the present invention, in which only a cross-sectional diagram of a raw-water container 1 is shown. FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in which a perspective diagram of a covering portion 19 of a stand section 2 is shown. FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, in which a cross-sectional diagram of the raw-water container 1 (2 L in volume) is shown.

The top of the container 1 is covered by a top board 20 at which a water inlet and outlet opening 11 added with a sliding cap is provided. In addition, the electrolytic tank 3 is connected to the top board 20 in such a way as being hanged down to the container. The electrolytic tank is embedded with two electrodes 4, and each of the electrodes is electrically connected to a terminal 8 arranged external to the container through an electrical connection rod 21 penetrating through the upper surface of the electrolytic tank and the top board of the container. Further, the top of the electrolytic tank is connected to one end of a guiding pipeline 5, and the other end of the guiding pipeline is arranged in the proximity of the bottom of the container. Further, on the bottom of the electrolytic tank, an open and close valve 9 is provided, which is connected to an operation button on the container through the electrical connection rod 21. Further, a supplying port 10 of a hydrochloric acid supplying pipeline (not shown) penetrating through the upper surface of the electrolytic tank and the top board of the container is provided on the top board of the container. Additionally, the stand section 2 is formed with a base portion 18 for receiving the container and the covering portion 19, and the container is positioned between the covering portion and base portion when the container is installed in the stand section. A power supplying terminal 6 which is connected with the terminal 8 of the electrolytic tank and renders an electrical connection to the electrolytic tank is provided on the covering portion 19. The terminal on the covering portion and the terminal of the electrolytic tank are reliably connected by the magnetic force of the magnets which are arranged in pairs (not shown). Further, a mechanism (not shown) for sensing a cap of a hydrochloric acid supplying port 10 is also provided. The base portion of the stand section is further provided with an operation panel 13 on which a limit switch 7 for sensing the weight of the container, electrolysis start and stop switches 15, 16, an indicator light 17, and the like are arranged. Further, a power supply and a control device for electrolysis (not shown) are embedded in the base portion of the stand section. In this apparatus, the hydrochloric acid with a concentration of 1.1% and in a volume of 7 ml is used as the raw-material liquid, and the acidulous electrolysis water in a volume of 2 L is generated by means of electrolysis at 5V, 3 A in about ten minutes.

Therefore, an apparatus for generating acidulous electrolysis water in low cost and safety for use in a family can be achieved by the present invention.

While the present invention has been described in detail and pictorially in the accompanying drawings, it is not limited to such details since many changes and modifications recognizable to those skilled in the art may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. 

1. An apparatus for generating electrolysis water, which is comprised of a container for storing raw water, a non-diaphragm batch-type electrolytic tank being accommodated and retained in said container, and a stand section for installing said container, characterized in that: an outer contour of the electrolytic tank is configured as a frame body formed by an impermeable material; on the outer contour of the electrolytic tank, an inlet for raw-material liquid equipped with a cap is provided; a pipeline is provided on an upper surface of the frame body of the electrolytic tank, one end of the pipeline is fixed, and the other end thereof is made to be opened in the proximity of the bottom of the container for allowing gas and liquid to communicate between an interior of the electrolytic tank and an interior of the container, and during electrolysis, an opening of the pipeline arranged in the proximity of the bottom of the container is immersed into the raw water stored in the container; on the bottom of the electrolytic tank, an opening section equipped with an open and close valve is provided, and the open and close operations of the open and close valve can be performed by using an open and close operating section provided external to the container; and when the container is installed on the stand section, it is configured in such a way that an electrode terminal for supplying power to an electrode embedded in the electrolytic tank is joined with a current supplying terminal disposed in the stand section to form a state that the power can be supplied to the electrolytic tank.
 2. An apparatus for generating electrolysis water as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is provided with a handle and an inlet.
 3. An apparatus for generating electrolysis water as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said upper surface of the electrolytic tank is integrated with a top board of the container, wherein the top board of the container is attached on said upper surface in order to cover the container.
 4. An apparatus for generating electrolysis water as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said electrolytic tank is not electrically conducted when the container is not installed on the stand section.
 5. An apparatus for generating electrolysis water as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said electrolytic tank is not electrically conducted when the container is installed on the stand section and the weight of the container is not higher than a certain value.
 6. An apparatus for generating electrolysis water as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said electrolytic tank is not electrically conducted when the resistance between the electrodes of the electrolytic tank is not lower than a certain value.
 7. An apparatus for generating electrolysis water as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said electrolytic tank is not electrically conducted when the inlet for the raw-material liquid in the electrolytic tank is not closed. 